The Adjustment Bureau

Contemplating that a person’s life is already mapped out and that there are enforcers around whose job is to adjust what happens to you to keep you on track, ‘The Adjustment Bureau’ takes what essentially is an intangible concept and cleverly screens it into a tangible and convincing story. 

Matt Damon (who plays politician Dave Norris) is not Bourne in this, but a people-person who meets the love of his life. The love his life, Elise Sellas (played by Emily Blunt, who gives a star performance), is a dancer, but she is not in the plan that’s been mapped out for Norris. This is where the Adjustment Bureau comes in, to keep Norris on track and away from Elise. 

The love element is strong without being over romanticised. The action is fast, but not Bond. It is a very human story with supernatural overtones. The ending is convincing and leaves the audience with questions about life, its purpose and whether we can determine life’s outcome and avoid the inevitability of fatalism. 

Do you find yourself saying, ‘What will be, will be?’ ‘The Adjustment Bureau’ shows that it doesn’t have to be that way.